Glow switch



Jan. 17, 1950 H, KAUPP 2,494,560

GLOW SWITCH Filed April 9, 1947 INVENTOR.

)[erz Kau BY 3 PP Patented Jan. 17, 1950 2,494,560 crow SWITCH HenryKaunp. Glendale, N. Y., assignor to The Roberts Numbering Machine Co.,Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 9, 1947, Serial No. 740,409

Claims.

My device relates to switches and more particularly to an illuminatedwall switch.

My main objective was to design such a glow switch that wouldincorporate many new and unique constructional and safety featuresresulting in a more attractive and serviceable switch than a similardevice now on the market.

The primary objective of my invention was to provide an illuminatedswitch handle for electrical switches of the wall type in order that aperson entering a dark room could quickly determine the location of theswitch. The switch handle itself is made from translucent material andacts as a protective covering for the small source of illumination thatis mounted therein. The source of illumination consists of a small gasfilled bulb of the neon or argon type which is illuminated when the mainswitch is in the off" position. Such a bulb consumes a minimum ofelectricity yet furnishes suflicient illumination to guide a persondirectly to the wall switch when the room is in a darkened condition. Assoon as the wall switch is operated to close the main circuit into whichit is wired, the electrical contacts for the neon bulb are automaticallydisconnected, extinguishing the illumination from this source. Even ifconnected in parallel arrangement with the main switch circuit, the neonlamp would extinguish when the switch was placed in the on position dueto the high resistance of the neon lamp circuit. This would cause thecurrent to seek the path of least resistance which would be through thelamp furnishing the source of illumination for the room.

Another advantage that my switch has over similar types is that thetranslucent handle containing the neon bulb may be readily removedwithout the necessity of removing the switch wall plate. Due to theunique method of mounting the handle member to the switch mechanism, thepivotal pin usually present in this type of device for securing thehandle to the main switch mechanism has been eliminated, facilitatingthe removal of the handle.

Another feature is that the handle which forms the translucent housingfor the bulb is constructed as a single unit comprising the translucenthousing, the bulb and insulated plate and the electrical contacts forthe bulb circuit. This enables the entire handle member to be removedand replaced in the event the bulb burns out without the necessity ofreplacing a new bulb and completing wire connections by soldering orother similar means. It is planned to produce these replaceable units ata very low cost enabling any home owner to quickly and efficientlyinstall a new unit without the necessity of engaging the services of anoutside repair man.

As an added protective feature, a pin acts as a protective device whenthe handle unit has been removed. The pin is positioned in the center ofthe aperture of the wall plate and when the handle member has beenremoved it prevents anyone from inadvertently placing his finger in thisaperture and touching the electrical contacts.

Further advantages and unique features of my device will be apparent asI proceed with the description.

With reference to the drawings- Fig. 1 shows a side elevation in sectionof a wall switch mechanism incorporating my device;

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation partially in sec tion;

Fig. 3 shows a'sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a partial front elevation with the switch handle removed;

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the pivotalbracket;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the switch handle; and

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the neon bulb and its electricalconnections.

In Fig. 1, I show a sectional side elevation of a snap-type wall switchIII which is equipped with conventional hollow porcelain housing IIwithin which is mounted the toggle switch mechanism I8. Affixed to thefront of the porcelain housing II by means of screws I2 is a metalhanger bracket I3. Located in the center of the bracket I3 is arectangular opening I4. Positioned on opposite sides of the opening I4are bearing mounts I5 which are formed from the bracket I3 and whichsupport the pivotal bracket member I6 to which the handle member I! ismounted and se-' cured.

The toggle switch mechanism I8 is of the conventional type consisting ofa U-shaped electrical contact member I9 that is pivoted to the, sides ofthe porcelain housing II. Projecting upward from the bottom of member I9is a raised portion 20 that engages one end of a coil spring 2!.Positioned on the opposite end of the coil spring 2| is a cup shapeddisc 22 into which the knob 23 projects. Knob 23 is an integral part ofthe pivotal member I6 to which the handle I! is secured and manipulationof the handle I! to the on and off positions causes the U-shaped memberI 9 to alternately make and break the electrical; circuit between thestationary spring terminals 25 and the electrical conductors 28 for thecircuit into which the switch is to be wired are secured to theterminals 25.

The handle unit l'l consists of a hollow translucent housing 21 for theneon lamp 28 which is mounted snugly within the housing 21. Alsoenclosed in this housing is a resistor 28 which is connected to oneterminal of the lamp 28. A pair of contacts 38 are shaped so as to makeengagement with projections 3| of the housing 21. To the contacts 30 areattached the wires 32 and 33 for the lamp 28. Shaped around the bottomof the lamp 28 and assisting to hold the lamp in its position in thehousing is an insulated plate 38.

The pivotal bracket it to which the handle member is secured iscomprised of a base 35 the sides of which are bent upward at rightangles and then outward to form pivot arms 36. The pivot arms 38 aresupported by the bearing mounts ii. A portion of the center part of thebase 35 is cut .7 out and bent downward at right angles to form the knob23 that engages in the cup shaped disc 22 of the toggle switch mechanisml8. Mounted in the center of the upper portion of the plate 35 is a pin31. The center portion of the lower extremity of the plate is bentupward at right angles and parallel to the axis of the pin 31 to form aprojection 38. The projection 38 is equipped with a hole 39 that isadapted to receive screw 40. The sides ll and 42 of the lower extremityof the late 35 are equipped with notches 43 into which one end of thesupport plate 44 fits. The support plate 46 is held in spaced relationto the projection 38 by having one end held in place by the notches 43while the opposite end is secured to the projection 38 through screw 88.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the handle unit il illustrating howthe lamp contacts 3|] fit over the projections 3i of the housing 21. Atthe opposite end from the contacts 38 and located in side the housing 21a short distance from the base 41 is a U-shaped flange 45 integral withand forming part of the housing 21.

As shown in Fig. 1 when the handle member I! is secured to the pivotalbracket l6 through screw 40, the flange 45 is engaged on one side by theprojection 38 and on the opposite side by the support plate 44. Throughthe screw 40 the propection 38, the flange 45 and the support plate 44are held tightly together resulting in the handle member I! being firmlysecured to the pivotal bracket l6. As shown in Fig. 1, when the handlemember i1 is in the down or of? position, the lamp contacts 38 arecontacting the stationary spring contacts 24 resulting in the lampcircuit being energized. It should be noted that in this position the U-shaped contact member IQ of the main switch is held at the bottom of theporcelain housing i I by the toggle switch mechanism It and the maincircuit is only receiving the limited amount of electrical current thatis diverted through the neon bulb which is insufiicient to light themain source of illumination for the room. When the handle member IT, asshown in Fi 2, is moved 'upward to the on position, the contacts 30 aremoved out of engagement with the stationary contacts 28 and the neonlamp circuit is de-energized. At the same time, this operation of thetoggle switch mechanism i8 causes the U-shaped contact l8 of the maincircuit to bridge the gap between the stationary contacts 24, resultingin the main circuit being energized. The neon light, when lit, serves toindicate that the main circuit is completed and, therefore, if theswitch is moved contacts 2|. The contacts 24 are secured to the to the"on" position the lamp supplyi l the room illumination or whatever otherload that is connected to the switch will be energized. I! the neon bulbin the handle does not light when the switch is in the "oil" position,it is probable that the lamp supplying illumination is defective.

As shown in Fig. 2, when thehandle is in the 011" position, the screw 40securing the handle member H to the bracket I8 is exposed and byslightly looseningthis screw the compression holding the handle memberII to the bracket II is released and the handle member II can then bereadily removed. In the event the screw 48 becomes loose, the handle l'lwill be retained in position by projections 88 on the plate 44 whichengage in notches 88 of the flange 85. In the event the bulb isdefective or has burned out, a new handle may be easily secured in placeby anyone who can manipulate a screw driver. During this changing noterminals or other electrical contacts are exposed and the change may bemade with a maximum of safety. In replacing a unit, the pin 31 willengage in the groove 45 in the top of the housing 21. When the handlemember. H is in place, it is merely necessary to tighten up on the screw58 which firmly secures the handle member I! to the pivotal bracket it.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to apresent preferred form which it may assume, it is not to be limited tosuch details and form since many changes and modifications may be madein the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention in its broadest aspects. Hence, it is desired to cover any andall forms and modifications of the invention which may come within thelanguage orscope of any one or more of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a toggle switch mechanism having a housing, apivotal bracket member to which a handle is detachably mounted, saidbracket having a depressed center portion with a knob projectingdownwardly therefrom, a projection formed at right angles to said centerand equipped with means to secure said handle, a pin extending at rightangles from said center portion and adapted to position in a groove inthe top of said handle and pivotal means connecting said bracket to thehousing of said switch mechanism.

2. An illuminated handle member for actuating a toggle switch mechanism,said member comprising a hollow translucent housing equipped with agroove and detachably mounted to said switch mechanism through a pivotalbracket member equipped with a projection, a pin, and a downwardprojecting knob, said pin adapted to engage in said groove, said knoboperatively connected to said switch mechanism, said handle secured byscrew means to said projection, an electrical bulb disposed in saidhousing and an electrical circuit for said bulb comprising electricalcontacts secured to said housing and wired to said bulb, said switchmechanism equipped with stationary electrical contacts, said switchmechanism being operable to make and break the circuit between saidstationary contacts, said bulb circuit being energized when said circuitis interrupted by the switch mechanism and being deenergized when saidcircuit is closed by the switch element.

3. An illuminated handle member for actuating a toggle switch mechanism,said member comprising a hollow translucent housing equipped with agroove and detachably mounted to said switch mechanism through a pivotalbracket member, said bracket having a depressed center portion with aknob projecting downwardly therefrom, a projection formed at rightangles to said center portion and equipped with means to secure saidhandle, a pin extending at right angles from said center portion andadapted to position in said groove of said housing, pivotal meansconnecting said bracket to the housing of said switch anism, a removablehandle comprising a hollow translucent housing, the walls of one sidethereof defining a U-shaped opening, a flange adjacent said opening, apivotal bracket member opera-- tively connected to said switchmechanism,a pair of members on said bracket engaging said flange flange equippedwith notches adjacent said opening, a pivotal bracket member operativelyconnected to said switch mechanism, a pair of members on said bracketengaging the flange, projections on one of said members adapted toposition in said notches, a screw extending through said members andgoverning the compression on said flange, an electrical bulb disposed insaid housing, electrical contacts secured to said housing and Wired tosaid bulb, said switch mechanism equipped with stationary electricalcontacts, said switch mechanism being operable to make and break thecircuit between said stationary contacts, said bulb circuit beingenergized when said circuit is interrupted by the switcli mechanism andbeing deenergized when said circuit is closed by the switch mechanism. v

v HENRY KAUPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of reoord in the I file ofthis patent;

and a screw extending through said members and governing thecompressionon said flange.

5. An illuminated handle member for actuating a toggle switch mechanism,said member com prising a hollow translucent housing, the walls of onesidev thereof defining a U-shaped opening, a.

UNITED STATES IPA'YI'ENTS Number Name v Date 924.463 'Hofmann 'June 8,1909 1,985,276 Brach Dec. 25, 1934 v 2,069,427 Stott Feb. 2, 19372,134,696 Bigman Nov. 1', 1938 2,153,479 Pastrick 1 Apr. 4, 19392,214,317 Bash et al." '..i Sept. 10, 1940 Bigman June 24, 1941

